Compressible and expandable container

ABSTRACT

The invention is a compressible and expandable container adapted to support a liquid. More particularly, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, wherein the top comprises a spout situated on a distal side of the top and a handle situated on a proximal side of the top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration. The container may compress, reducing the container&#39;s height and volume, thereby taking up a reduced amount of space. The container may also expand, increasing the container&#39;s height and volume, increasing the container&#39;s storage capacity.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to a container, and more specifically, to a container designed to compress or expand in volume in response to force applied by user.

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may contain material that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.

Certain marks referenced herein may be common law or registered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated with the applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of example and shall not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of this invention to material associated only with such marks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Containers may be used in a variety of ways, such as in the transportation, organization, or storage of various objects. Typically, the larger the container, the more objects may be held in the container. As such, the utility of a container with regards to its storage or transport capacity increases as the size of the container increases.

While the utility of a container may increase as the size of the container increases, with exception to containers used for the storage of objects, most of the time a container is not utilized. For example, while a water bucket may be used when one washes their car, most of the time the bucket sits unused in one's garage, as washing one's car only takes a fraction of one's time. Thus, most of the time, containers with great utility simply take up space.

In today's society, space has value. One rents commercial space by the foot. Real property value is dependent upon the lot size. The size of a car is a variable in the car's price. Thus, the less space a container requires when it is not used, the less money the container effectively costs for its storage. As such, the cost of storage for a conventional container with static dimensions increases as the container's utility increases. Therefore, it would be beneficial to have a container that could take up less space in storage but to hold more when the container is utilized.

There is a need in the art for a compressible and expandable container. Specifically, there is a need for a container designed to expand or compress in volume to the needs of the user. It is to these ends that the present invention has been developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize other limitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding the present specification, the present invention describes a compressible and expandable container designed to change in volume in response to force applied by user

An apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, wherein the top comprises a spout situated on a distal side of the top and a handle situated on a proximal side of the top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration.

Additionally, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration, and the sidewall is comprised of polyethylene 0035.

Moreover, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention may comprise a bottom, a top, wherein the top comprises of a threaded spout adapted to thread with a threaded cover, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide a compressible and expandable container that may compress, reducing the container's height and volume.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide a compressible and expandable container that may expand, increasing the container's height and volume.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide a user with a container that may carry increased amounts of liquid, while being able to store the container in a reduced amount of space.

Finally, it is yet another objective of the present invention to provide the user with a compressible and expandable container that may reduce the amount of exertion required to lift and carry said container.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention are described herein with specificity so as to make the present invention understandable to one of ordinary skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Elements in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity and improve understanding of these various elements and embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood to those in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear view of the various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1( a) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in expanded position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid.

FIG. 1( b) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in compressed position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid.

FIG. 1( c) illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments and applications of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, where depictions are made, by way of illustration, of specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1( a) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in expanded position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid. FIG. 1( b) illustrates a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a container in compressed position, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid.

FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b) show container 100, which includes bottom 102, top 104, and sidewall 106, which is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have both a compressible and expandable configuration. Top 104 may include a handle 108, spout 110, cover 112 and spout threading 114. Container 100 is designed to provide increased volume when in an expanded state, but to also provide decreased volume and easier storage when in a compressed state.

Bottom 102 is composed of a flat base surface in which container 100 may sit upon when not lifted by user. Top 104 may comprise of handle 108, spout 110, cover 112 and spout threading 114. Top 104 and its various sub-components will be discussed in detail below at FIG. 1( c). Both bottom 102 and top 104 may be composed of a variety of materials, including polypropylene, polyethylene, neoprene, or any other material that is sufficiently resistant to and safe for storage and transportation of both water and oil-based products. This list of materials, however, should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, container 100 has a maximum volume of five gallons, with a width of six inches, length of five inches, and a maximum height of seventeen inches. In the preferred embodiment, container 100 has a minimum height of two inches. In another embodiment, container 100 may have a maximum volume of two and a half gallons, with a width of five inches, length of ten inches, and a maximum height of thirteen inches and a minimum height of one and a half inches. The dimensions of these preferred embodiments, however, should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention.

In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1( a) and 1(b), container 100 includes a continuous sidewall 106 that is securely attached to the entire perimeter of both bottom 102 and top 104 so as to form an enclosure that may be adapted to support or contain a liquid. However, container 100 may include more than one sidewall 106. In another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, container 100 may include a plurality of vertical support columns orthogonal to both bottom 102 and top 104. A plurality of sidewalls 106 may be attached to vertical support columns, bottom 102 and top 104 so as to form an enclosure that may be adapted to support or contain a liquid. Thus, the number of sidewalls 106 in container 100 should not be used as to narrow the scope of the present invention.

Sidewall 106 may be composed of a variety of materials, including polyethylene 0035 (also known or referred to as PET 0035), or any other material that is flexible so as to permit compression and expansion of sidewall 106 while rigid enough so as to permit container 100 to function as a stiff container. Additionally, sidewall 106 may be composed of a material that is sufficiently resistant to both water and oil-based products. In a preferred embodiment, container 100 is made of polyethylene 0035. Polyethylene 0035 is lightweight, durable, impact-resistant and performs well as a barrier to oil and water-based products.

Sidewall 106 may comprise of a plurality of compressible and expandable folds 116. Folds 116 may expand or compress in size, thereby expanding or compressing sidewall 106. When container 100 is compressed or expanded, the height of sidewall 106 increases or decreases respectively.

The range of compression and expansion of fold 116 depends upon the dimensions of container 100 and the material employed in sidewall 106. Additionally, each fold 116 in sidewall 106 may be uniform in size and shape; however, these properties should not limit the scope of the present invention.

When container 100 is expanded, as shown in FIG. 1( a), the surface area of fold 116 remains the same, but the distance between the top and bottom of fold 116 increases. When container 100 is compressed, as shown in FIG. 1( b), the surface area of fold 116 remains the same, but the distance between the top and bottom of fold 116 decreases. As such, when container 100 is compressed or expanded, the surface area of sidewall 106 remains constant.

When container 100 is compressed or expanded, the height of sidewall 106, and consequently the volume of container 100, is modified by the compression or expansion of folds 116. As such, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order to provide for uniform dimensionality across sidewall 106, bottom 102 and top 104 need have the same dimensions and surface area.

In an expanded state, as shown in FIG. 1( a), container 100 has an increased height and a corresponding increased volume. As such, container 100, in an expanded state, may provide increased carrying capacity as compared to container 100 in a compressed state. When compressed, as shown in FIG. 1( b), container 100 has a reduced height and a reduced volume. Thus, container 100, when compressed, may be easier carried and stored in a smaller location because container 100 has reduced dimensions.

While container 100 may have a minimum and maximum height and a corresponding minimum and maximum volume, any configuration of container 100 in between its most compressed and the most expanded state may be utilized. Thus, while the most expanded state of container 100 may provide the greatest volume and largest carrying capacity, and the most compressed state of container 100 may provide the least volume for easiest storage and transport, container 100 may be utilized in a configuration somewhere in between tailored to the specific needs of the user. For example, should a user need only a fraction of the carrying capacity that may be provided by container 100 in its most expanded configuration, container 100 may be utilized in a configuration less than its most expanded state, but more than the most compressed state, in order to provide the carrying capacity required by user with the dimensions easiest for transport and most efficient for storage.

In an exemplary embodiment, container 100 may be expanded or compressed by the application of force upon bottom 102 and top 104. The amount of force required to expand or compress container 100 depends upon the material used in sidewall 106, the thickness of sidewall 106, and the total height of and number of folds 116 in sidewall 106. In another embodiment of container 100, simply adding liquid may expand container 100, and removing liquid may compress container 100.

In an exemplary embodiment, cover 112 may be securely attached to spout 110 to form a pressurized seal. In this embodiment of container 100, cover 112 should not be securely attached to spout 110 when expanding or compressing container 100. When cover 112 is not securely attached to spout 110, container 100 may be expanded or compressed accordingly. However, when force is applied to container 100 in order to alter its volume when cover 112 is securely attached to spout 110, any decrease in volume of container 100 inversely increases the pressure inside container 100. As such, in the event that cover 112 is securely attached to spout 110 when force is applied to alter the volume of container 100, tension on sidewall 106, bottom 102, and top 104 is increased dramatically due to corresponding increasing pressure inside container 100.

After container 100 is expanded or compressed, but cover 112 is not securely attached to spout 110, container 100 may compress or expand back to its original state. For example, should a user fill container 100 with a liquid, but not securely attach cover 112 to spout 110, container 100 may compress back to its original state, ejecting excess liquid from inside container 100. In another embodiment, however, should a user fill container 100 with a liquid, but not securely attach cover 112 to spout 110, container 100 may maintain its newly expanded state indefinitely. In another example, should a user compress container 100 to its minimum volume, but not securely attach cover 112 to spout 110, container 100 may maintain its newly compressed state indefinitely, or may expand back to its original state, depending upon the material used in sidewall 106.

When container 100 is expanded or compressed, and cover 112 is securely attached to spout 110, container 100 may maintain its new volume state indefinitely. However, in the event that cover 112 is securely attached to spout 110, but the pressure outside container 100 is substantially altered (e.g. container brought to a high altitude or deep underwater), container 100 may expand or compress, change its volume to match its inside pressure with that outside container 100.

FIG. 1( c) illustrates a top view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1( c) shows container 100 from a top view, highlighting top 104, which comprises a handle 108, spout 110, cover 112, and spout threading 114.

Handle 108 may be securely attached to surface of top 104. Handle 108 may be composed of a variety of materials including metal, wood, plastics or some other composition or mixture such that handle 108 and container 100 may survive normal usage and wear. Handle 108 may be ergonomically designed so as to allow a user to lift container 100 comfortably. The height, width, depth, and overall size of handle 108 may vary. The options and limitations in handle 108, however, should not be interpreted so as to limit the scope of the present invention.

Handle 108 may be positioned on a distal side of top 104 of container 100 so that little lateral force need be applied by a user in effort to lift container 100 and keep container 100 away from their body. Should a handle be placed at the center of an object for lifting, the angle of a user's arm away from their body increases as the width of the object increases. The higher the angle of user's arm away from their body, the more exertion required by user to lift and carry the object due to the increased lateral force required. Thus, by positioning handle 108 on a distal side of top 104, the angle of the arm of user carrying container 100 away from user's body remains low. As such, by designing container 100 to keep user's arm angle low, less exertion by a user is required to lift and carry container 100, as little or no lateral force would mean that the bulk of a user's exertion would work towards the counteraction of the weight of container 100.

Spout 110 is an opening in container 100 located on a proximal side of top 104. Liquid may enter or exit container 100 via spout 110. In an exemplary embodiment, spout 110 is cylindrical in shape and protrudes outward from the surface of top 104, away from body of container 100. Spout 110, however, need not be cylindrical in shape, and need not protrude a distance outward from top 104. For example, spout 110 may simply comprise of an opening in container 100 that does not protrude inward or outward from surface of top 104.

The positioning of handle 108 on distal side of top 104 and spout 110 on proximal side of top 104 facilitates easier pouring and filling liquid from and to container 100. For example, if handle 108 were positioned adjacent to spout 110, should container 100 be held or lifted by a user, then a user's arm may obstruct spout 110, complicating the pouring and filling processes of container 100. However, with handle 108 positioned on a distal side of top 104, and spout 110 on a proximal side of top 104, a user's arm would not obstruct spout 110 should container 100 be held or lifted by handle 108. As such, with handle 108 positioned on a distal side of top 104, and spout 110 on a proximal side of top 104, a user may pour liquid from container 100, or fill container 100, without obstruction. Thus, the positioning of handle 108 and spout 110 facilitate the filling and pouring process of container 100.

Spout 110 may be securely sealed by cover 112. In an exemplary embodiment, spout 110 and cover 112 may create a pressurized seal, pressurizing the contents of container 100. Cover 112 is designed so as to attach to and detach from spout 110. Cover 112, in an exemplary embodiment of container 100, has the shape of an inverted cup, securely fitting to the cup shape of spout 110. The inside diameter of cover 112 may be at least equal to the out diameter of spout 110. Cover 112 may include an inner threading.

Spout 110 may include spout threading 114. Spout threading 114 is threading on the outer surface of spout 110 such that cover 112 may securely attach to spout 110, provided that cover 112 has corresponding threading. In another embodiment, however, spout 110 does not have spout threading 114, and cover 112 may securely attach to spout 110 by a snapping mechanism.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of another exemplary embodiment of a container, comprising a bottom, a top, and a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid. FIG. 2 illustrates container 200, which includes bottom 202, top 204, and sidewall 206, which is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have both a compressible and expandable configuration.

In this alternative embodiment, container 200 is a compressible and expandable container, wherein top 204 includes top body 205, which is a vertical sidewall layer extending downward, orthogonal to the plane of top 204. In this embodiment, spout 210 extends horizontally outward from sidewall 206, located on surface of top body 205. Sidewall 206 is securely attached to bottom 202 and top body 205 such that container 200 may support a liquid. The placement of spout 210 on top body 205 allows for easier pouring in certain situations, such as pouring gasoline into a car fuel tank without the use of a funnel. Additionally, the placement of spout 210 on top body 205 permits handle 208 to be located at center of top 204. Handle 208, however, may be placed at any position on top 204, and thus the location of handle 208 on container 200 should not be interpreted so as to limit the scope of the present invention.

A compressible and expandable container has been described. The foregoing description of the various exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and disclosure. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by this detailed description, but by the claims and the equivalents to the claims. 

1. A compressible and expandable container, comprising: a bottom; a top; a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration; wherein the top comprises a spout situated on a distal side of the top, and a handle situated on a proximal side of the top.
 2. The container of claim 1, wherein said handle situated on a proximal side of the top reduces exertion required to lift said container.
 3. The container of claim 1, wherein said spout situated on a distal side of the top and said handle situated on a proximal side of the top facilitate filling of said container.
 4. The container of claim 1, wherein said spout situated on a distal side of the top and said handle situated on a proximal side of the top facilitate pouring of liquid from said container.
 5. A compressible and expandable container, comprising: a bottom; a top; a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration; wherein the sidewall is comprised of polyethylene
 0035. 6. The container of claim 5, wherein said sidewall is sufficiently resistant to and safe for storage and transportation of both water and oil-based products.
 7. The container of claim 5, wherein said container may compress back to its original volume state after expansion.
 8. The container of claim 5, wherein said container may expand back to its original volume state after compression.
 9. The container of claim 5, wherein said container may maintain its volume state after compression.
 10. The container of claim 5, wherein said container may maintain its volume state after expansion.
 11. A compressible and expandable container, comprising: a bottom; a top; a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration; wherein the top comprises a threaded spout adapted to thread with a threaded cover.
 12. The container of claim 11, wherein said threaded cover may be securely screwed on and off of said spout.
 13. The cover of claim 12, wherein said threaded cover may create a pressurized seal with said threaded spout.
 14. The container of claim 12, wherein said threaded cover may be screwed off said threaded spout.
 15. A compressible and expandable container, comprising: a bottom; a top; a sidewall attached to the bottom and the top to form an enclosure that is adapted to support a liquid, wherein the sidewall is configured to have a compressible and expandable wall configuration; wherein the top comprises a threaded spout adapted to thread with a threaded cover, situated on a distal side of the top, and a handle situated on a proximal side of the top, and the sidewall is comprised of polyethylene
 0035. 16. The container of claim 15, wherein said container has a maximum volume of five gallons, with a width of six inches and a length of five inches.
 17. The container of claim 16, wherein said container has a maximum height of seventeen inches.
 18. The container of claim 16, wherein said container has a minimum height of two inches.
 19. The container of claim 15, wherein said container has a maximum volume of two and a half gallons, with a width of five inches and a length of ten inches.
 20. The container of claim 19, wherein said container has a maximum height of thirteen inches and a minimum height of one and a half inches. 